Control features for motorized surgical stapling instrument

Abstract

An apparatus includes a body, a motorized end effector, and a control system. The end effector extends distally from the body and comprises a stapling assembly operable to drive staples into tissue. The control system is in communication with the end effector. The control system comprises a motor, a firing trigger, a switch assembly, and a movable member in communication with the firing trigger. A resilient member is engaged with the movable member. The firing trigger and the resilient member are configured to cooperate to move the movable member into engagement with the switch to thereby activate the motor. The switch assembly is configured to couple a power source with the motor to thereby activate the motor in response to actuation of the firing trigger.

We claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a body; 
 (b) an end effector extending distally from the body, wherein the end effector comprises a stapling assembly operable to drive staples into tissue; and 
 (c) a control system in communication with the end effector, wherein the control system comprises:
 (i) a motor, 
 (ii) a rotary drive member coupled with the motor and having a cam feature, wherein the rotary drive member is rotatable by the motor through a range of motion to actuate the stapling assembly to perform a firing stroke, 
 (iii) a movable member, and 
 (iv) a stop switch in communication with the motor, wherein the stop switch is configured to transition between:
 (A) a first state in which the stop switch permits activation of the motor and initiation of the firing stroke in response to a user input, and 
 (B) a second state in which the stop switch deactivates the motor to cease actuation of the stapling assembly, 
 wherein the cam feature is configured to drive the movable member into engagement with the stop switch and thereby transition the stop switch from the first state to the second state when the rotary drive member completes the range of motion, 
 wherein the movable member is configured to remain stationary while the rotary drive member rotates through a portion of the range of motion. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable member is configured to remain stationary as the rotary drive member rotates through a first portion of the range of motion, wherein the moveable member is configured to move into engagement with the stop switch as the rotary drive member rotates through a second portion of the range of motion. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable member comprises a rocker member, wherein the rocker member is rotatable about an axis. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable member includes a first arm configured to engage the cam feature of the rotary drive member, and a second arm configured to engage the stop switch. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivoting member operatively coupled with the stapling assembly, wherein the rotary drive member is configured to pivot the pivoting member in a first direction to actuate the stapling assembly through a first portion of the firing stroke, wherein the rotary drive member is further configured to pivot the pivoting member in a second direction to actuate the stapling assembly through a second portion of the firing stroke. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cam feature comprises a first cam feature, wherein the rotary drive member further comprises a second cam feature configured to actuate the stapling assembly through at least a first portion of the firing stroke. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the rotary drive member further comprises a third cam feature configured to actuate the stapling assembly through a second portion of the firing stroke. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the third cam feature is circumferentially offset from the second cam feature about a rotational axis of the rotary drive member. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a pivoting member operatively coupled with the stapling assembly, wherein the second cam feature is configured to pivot the pivoting member in a first direction to actuate the stapling assembly through the first portion of the firing stroke, wherein the third cam feature is configured to pivot the pivoting member in a second direction to actuate the stapling assembly through the second portion of the firing stroke. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor, the rotary drive member, and the stop switch are housed within the body. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control system further comprises a firing trigger, wherein the motor is configured to activate in response to actuation of the firing trigger. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control system further comprises:
 (a) a power source operable to activate the motor, and 
 (b) a power sink, 
 wherein the stop switch is configured to decouple the power source from the motor and couple the power source with the power sink when the stop switch transitions from the first state to the second state. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the range of motion of the rotary drive member consists of a single revolution about a rotational axis. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a body; 
 (b) an end effector extending distally from the body, wherein the end effector comprises a stapling assembly operable to drive staples into tissue; and 
 (c) a control system in communication with the end effector, wherein the control system comprises:
 (i) a motor, 
 (ii) a first moveable member, wherein the first moveable member is rotatable by the motor about a first axis to actuate the stapling assembly to perform a firing stroke, 
 (iii) a second moveable member, wherein the second moveable member is rotatable about a second axis offset from the first axis, and 
 (iv) a stop switch in communication with the motor, wherein the stop switch is operable to selectively deactivate the motor to cease actuation of the stapling assembly, 
 
 wherein the first moveable member is rotatable by the motor to contact and drive the second moveable member into engagement with the stop switch to thereby deactivate the motor upon completion of the firing stroke. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first axis extends in a first direction, wherein the second axis extends in a second direction. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first moveable member includes a cam feature operable to engage the second moveable member to thereby drive the second moveable member into engagement with the stop switch. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second axis is transverse relative to the first axis. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a body; 
 (b) an end effector extending distally from the body, wherein the end effector comprises a stapling assembly operable to drive staples into tissue; and 
 (c) a control system in communication with the end effector, wherein the control system comprises:
 (i) a motor, 
 (ii) a power source operable to activate the motor, 
 (iii) a rotary drive member coupled with the motor, wherein the rotary drive member is rotatable by the motor through a single revolution to actuate the stapling assembly to perform a firing stroke, 
 (iv) an actuator member, wherein the actuator member is moveable by the rotary drive member from a first position to a second position upon completion of the revolution, and 
 (v) a stop switch, wherein the actuator member is configured to engage the stop switch in the second position, 
 
 wherein the stop switch is configured to couple the power source with the motor to thereby permit activation of the motor and initiation of the firing stroke when the actuator member is in the first position, 
 wherein the stop switch is further configured to decouple the power source from the motor and thereby deactivate the motor when the actuator member is in the second position. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the rotary drive member includes a cam feature operable to engage and drive the actuator member from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the rotary drive member is rotatable about a first axis, wherein the actuator member is rotatable about a second axis offset from the first axis.